Dustin McGowan hasn’t pitched in a big-league game since 2008, experiencing multiple setbacks since then, but Arden Zwelling of MLB.com reports that he’s stayed injury free long enough to schedule a minor-league rehab assignment that begins tomorrow.

According to Zwelling the 29-year-old right-hander “has made tremendous strides in his recovery from multiple arm surgeries” during the past few months and is “throwing his fastball with mid-90s velocity during games in extended spring training.”

If true the Blue Jays ought to be commended for their patience, because at various points it looked like McGowan might never stay healthy long enough to rediscovery his nasty pre-surgery stuff. Presumably they’ll give him the maximum 30 days to rehab.